611 - R. VINKELES (1741–1816), A Cat and Two Sparrows, 1778, Etching

R. VINKELES (1741–1816), A Cat and Two Sparrows, 1778, Etching Reinier Vinkeles (1741, Amsterdam – 1816, ibid.): A Cat and Two Sparrows: An interior scene featuring a cat, two sparrows, and a birdcage; illustration of a fable, 1778, etching Technique: Etching on paper Print Quality: An absolutely superb, well-balanced print. Inscription: Inscribed on the lower part of the printing plate: “LE CHAT ET LES DEUX MOINEAUX. / Fable CCXV.” Date: 1778 Description: A rectangular framed interior shows, on the left, an open door offering a view of architectural details and a flowerpot. On the right stands an ornate table with an empty birdcage, and next to it a dome-shaped animal hutch. In the foreground, a cat, with its back bristling and tail raised, crouches over a captured bird; a second small bird lies on the ground in front of it. The scene is rendered using dense cross-hatching, delicate parallel lines, and gradations of chiaroscuro. The viewer’s gaze is drawn from the light streaming through the doorway to the cat, the focal point of the action. The contrast between the tranquil space and the sudden movement of the animal creates a moralizing, fable-like climax. Source: Jean de la Fontaine (1621–1695) *Fables choisies*, 1802 | Book, Mythology, Genre, Fashion Keywords: Interior; Cat; Birds; Birdcage; Fable; Depiction of an animal; Hunting scene; Table; Doorway; Flowerpot; Animal house; Floor tiles; Ornament; Printed graphic; Cross-hatching; Interior; French title; Book illustration; 18th century; Classicism; Genre; France; Size: Paper: 19.6 cm x 12.7 cm (7.7 x 5 in), Illustration: 12.9 cm x 8.4 cm (5.1 x 3.3 in) Condition: Good condition. The sheet is generally discolored, with slight signs of aging, scattered stains, and discoloration along the edges; there are small creases and signs of wear in the lower right-hand corner and along the lower edge, and the corners are slightly bumped. There are puncture marks from an old binding along the margin of the sheet.